13-year-old girl dies after being rescued from River Wharfe in Yorkshire
A 13-year-old girl has died after she was rescued from the River Wharfe in Yorkshire, police have said.
North Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the river near Burnsall after a 13-year-old girl was reported missing in the water at around 6.30pm on Sunday (May 31).
She was rescued and taken to hospital by air ambulance, where she died a short time later.
A police statement said: “Despite the efforts of members of the public at the scene and medical staff at the scene and in hospital, she sadly died.
“At this stage we are not in a position to release her identity.
“Our thoughts remain with her family at this very distressing time and we ask members of the public and the media to respect the family’s privacy and allow them to grieve in peace.
“Our thanks go to the members of the public who helped at the scene.”
The incident comes less than 24 hours after an 11-year-old boy went missing in the River Don in Mexborough in South Yorkshire.
Officers were called to the scene at Ferry Boat Lane at 7.59pm on Saturday and emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services also responded, police said.
The boy has not been found despite a multi-agency search of the the river, the riverbank, and nearby open land, with an underwater search team and Mountain Rescue also involved.
The boy’s family had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers.
Police Constable Simon Bennett, police search adviser, said in a statement: “As we have now lost daylight, the search has become more challenging and we will have to await first light to resume extensive search activities, but we aren’t giving up – police officers will remain at the river Don overnight and we are already putting plans in place for further searches of the river Don and nearby land tomorrow.
“We have had so many offers of help but, for everyone’s safety, must ask people to refrain from conducting their own searches of land or water – we have enough resources to continue the search and have access to a national network of specialists should we need them in the coming days.”